The governments of Canada and Ontario are investing more than $1.7 million to help Ontario beekeepers protect and strengthen their honey bee colonies.
Announced under the Honey Bee Health Initiative, the funding supports 334 projects led by 206 beekeeping businesses, enabling improvements in hive health, pest control and winter loss prevention.
Delivered by the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association, the funding is part of the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP), a five-year, $3.5 billion federal-provincial initiative supporting agri-food innovation and resilience. The honey bee sector will benefit from cost-shared funding that is expected to total nearly $5.9 million in biosecurity upgrades across Ontario’s beekeeping industry.
In 2024, Ontario was home to over 4,000 registered beekeepers who generated $28 million in farm gate sales. The sector contributed $47 million to the province’s GDP and supported approximately 1,600 jobs. Ontario also ranks as the country’s fourth-largest honey-producing province.
The funding comes at a crucial time. Beekeepers are facing mounting challenges including new pests, treatment-resistant diseases, and severe overwintering losses. Equipment upgrades, better stock and biosecurity measures will allow producers to maintain healthy colonies and continue providing critical pollination services to Ontario’s diverse crop sector.
“This support helps ensure long-term sustainability,” said Ontario Beekeepers’ Association president Stephen Moore. “It’s helping beekeepers adapt and thrive.”
(Written by: Joseph Goden)
